While no one wants pests of any kind in their home, calling an exterminator is especially important if you have a destructive intruder like carpenter ants. These prolific insects burrow through wood in much the same way as termites, causing damage that is expensive to repair and sometimes dangerous to live with. Aside from spotting the ants themselves, here’s how to tell if you have an infestation.

What Are the Signs of Carpenter Ants?

1. Noises

You might not think of listening to detect such tiny insects, but their movements through the wood of a home are often audible. This is especially true when the home is quiet, such as in the early morning. Rustling sounds from inside the walls have few other possible explanations other than a carpenter ant or termite infestation.

2. Sawdust

As they burrow through wood, carpenter ants generate a large amount of fine wood shavings or sawdust, which they then push out of their tunnels. This sawdust, called “frass,” piles up under the burrows, sometimes combined with parts of dead insects. The more active the ants are and the larger their burrow, the more dust you’ll find.

3. Structural Damage

Over time, the chewed, pitted wood may become apparent as more and more tunnels exit the wood surface and weathering or use removes thin outer layers of wood. If you can see this structural damage, the wood is probably severely weakened, and you might need to move out until the bug problem can be treated.

If you’ve found carpenter ants in your home, a call to Arab Termite and Pest Control of Cincinnati in Ohio is the best way to prevent further damage. Within days of your call, these experienced exterminators will visit your Hamilton County home to assess the damage and treat for pests, drawing on almost 90 years of experience in the business and a wealth of new, current information gained through ongoing education. To schedule a visit, call (513) 385-3430 or visit them online.